The latest woman to join a class action lawsuit against Georgetown University, Kesher Israel synagogue, the National Capital Mikvah and an Orthodox rabbi accused of secretly recording women during ritual baths described the suffering she's gone through since learning about a hidden camera that may have captured her naked.
Emma Shulevitz, who is 39 weeks pregnant and due any day, said when she went to the Mikvah to convert to Judaism in 2012, rabbi Barry Freundel told her not to put anything in front of a clock radio when she disrobed, News4's Chris Gordon reported. She said she has suffered greatly since learning it contained a hidden camera
"I feel betrayed,” she said. “I feel duped. I feel taken advantage of. Unfortunately this is a very, very sad situation."
Freundel was charged with six counts of voyeurism after Shulevitz reported her fears that she had been caught on camera and went public. He was accused of recording at least several women at a ritual bath next to Kesher Israel in Georgetown, where he was the rabbi.
The class action lawsuit claims at least 100 women may have been videotaped. It claims Georgetown, Kesher Israel and the National Capital Mikvah ignored warning signs about Freundel.
Lawyer Allan Siegel filed another class action lawsuit in D.C. Superior Court Thursday. It seeks money damages from Kesher Israel, the National Capital Mikvah and the Rabbinical Council of America for possibly hundreds of women who may have been photographed without clothes at the mikvah since 2005.
"He violated their trust at a time when they were most vulnerable, when they were nude in the mikvah at their closest moment with God," he said.
Freundel is due for a court hearing Jan. 16. He has pleaded not guilt.
